Page 285 - Reading Mercury

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night of the 1 February last, the property of the churchwardens. The prisoner and his
brother have been, for a number of years, engaged in robbing the wire guard work
from the exterior of illuminated windows and the prisoner was sentenced to four years
penal servitude for this offence in January 1864. It will be remembered that on the
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morning of the 7 ult, two constables of the Reading Borough Police stopped two
men near the Great Western Railway Station with a quantity of copper wire in their
possession when one of them made his escape. The prisoner was apprehended by the
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superintendent of police at Wolverhampton in Staffordshire on the 3 instant, and has
been identified as the same man who then escaped. Supt. Millard applied for a remand
until Wednesday, which was granted.

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Sat 6 June
ODD-FELLOWS’ FETE
On Whit-Monday the members of the new “Royal Forest” Lodge of Odd Fellows,
No. 5066, celebrated their anniversary at Matthew’s Green, near Wokingham, the seat
of Captain Elliott Morres. A procession, headed by the Reading Saxe Horn Band,
paraded the town, and then proceeded to the Park.
At one o’clock an excellent dinner was provided under a spacious tent, the caterer
being Mr Newcombe, of the “Hope and Anchor” Inn, Wokingham. John Walter Esq.,
presided, and was supported by–Walter Esq., the Rev. T J Browne, the Rev. T Morres,
Capt. Morres, Dr. Barford, Dr Waite, Mr Munden, Mr Westcott, &c.–After dinner the
loyal toasts were proposed by the Chairman, and Captain Morres and Lieutenant
Walter responded for the “Army and Navy”. Mr Robert Blake, the secretary, then read
the report from which it appeared that the Lodge was founded in 1862 with only
thirteen members. The numbers have been gradually increased until this year they
have reached 137. The receipts this year amounted to £4 10s and the expenditure to £3
2s.; but the total value now is £209 19s 8d., of which £190 2s. 11d. is in the Post
Office Savings Bank. Eighteen members have been initiated during the present year.
The other toasts were – “The Bishop and Clergy,” “Success to the New Royal
Forest Lodge,” &c. The Chairman said that if agreeable next year he should be happy
to find a convenient place for the society at Bear Wood if they decided on paying him
a visit. (Cheers.)
After dinner a variety of games were commenced and the festivities concluded
with a ball at the “Hope and Anchor.”

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Sat 20 June
During the past week a movement has been set on foot in Wokingham to provide
two or three hours of relaxation each week during the summer months for the
assistants in the various business establishments to whom the enjoyment of the
pleasant summer weather will be a boon much appreciated. It is arranged to close the
shops at five o’clock every Wednesday (commencing next week) and from the
unanimous feeling shown in favour of the scheme there is no doubt of its being
generally adopted as the whole of the principal tradesmen have given their consent
and it is especially gratifying to know that the plan originated with a few of the
employers and not from the employed – a proof of kindness and consideration which
will be truly valued.
The plan, we hear, has been adopted in various other places with the success and,
where all join, the benefit is shared by all, and no one suffers in a business point of
view.

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